arten the Indians.
On the contrary, it excited them to further efforts to capture the
whites. Maddened with excitement they rushed boldly forward to the
attack, but the steady, deadly fire which the defenders maintained
drove them back time after time.

But now the defenders in the fort began to get anxious, for their stock
of gunpowder was nearly exhausted. There was a plentiful supply at the
house, and someone would have to undertake the perilous task of running
to it and returning under fire with a keg of powder. There were plenty
of volunteers for this dangerous undertaking, but among them was a
woman--Elizabeth Zane, the youngest sister of the two Colonels Zane.
She had been educated in Philadelphia, and until her arrival at
Wheeling, a few weeks previously, had experienced none of the hardships
of frontier life. But now, in the hour of danger, she was brave as if
she had been brought up in the midst of stirring scenes.

It was pointed out to her that a man would run less risk than she, from
the fact of his being able to run faster; but she answered that if he
were shot in the act, his loss would be severely felt. 'You have not
one man to spare, she declared. 'A woman will not be missed in the
defence of the fort.'

The men did not like the idea of allowing her to run so great a risk,
but she overcame their objections, and started on her perilous journey.

The moment the gate was opened she bounded through, and ran at full
speed towards the house. Surprised at her sudden appearance in the
open, the Indians seized their muskets, but quickly recognizing that
she was a woman they exclaimed, 'Only a squaw,' and did not fire.

Arriving at the house she announced to Colonel Ebenezer Zane the object
of her journey, whereupon he fastened a table-cloth around her waist,
and emptied a keg of powder into it.

The moment that she appeared again in the open, the Indians noticed the
table-cloth around her waist, and, guessing at once that she was
carrying to the fort something that was necessary for its defence;
promptly opened fire on her. Undeterred by the bullets which whizzed
past her Elizabeth Zane ran quickly towards the fort; and reached it in
safety. It is needless to say that the brave young woman received an
enthusiastic greeting from the garrison who had witnessed with
admiration her daring act.

The defenders of the fort, their stock of ammunition replenished,
fought with renewed confidence when the